Electrical Wiring - Trunking

[LONG_KEELER]

Just wondering if anyone has used self adhesive trunking rather than cable clips on their boats.

It's worked well for me at home and thought of using it after getting the surfaces really clean.

TIA

 

[lw395]

I've used conduit for some things.
The self adhesive trunking might be OK where things go in straight lines.

 

[superheat6k]

I have found many self adhesive fixings useless on the boat, particularly in engine spaces because the boat's surfaces become deeply contaminated by an oily film. WD40 is particularly difficult to remove. If you clean the surface first with detergent and then once dry wipe over with acetone you might get sufficient adhesion, but consider using an epoxy adhesive such as araldite, and where possible affix with screws, or through bolt.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have used mainly trunking when I fitted out my boat but did not rely on the self adhesive alone but added self tapping screws as a belt and braces into the ply wood lining.

 

[Poignard]

I have used it but, having little faith in the adhesive's longevity, I secure it with screws as well!

 

[GHA]

Used it successfully but either backed up with a few screws or gorilla velcro for awkward places.

 

[Boathook]

I've used it but found that it does need help. I now use plain trunking and waterproof no-nails or equivalent. I have managed to get trunking to go round corners by cutting 'slots' in it from top or bottom as appropriate for the corner / bend.
Make sure that the trunking is big enough to take a few more cables. I never used to !

 

[LadyInBed]

As above, don't rely on adhesive and allow for future expansion.
Some of the cables on my boat have plastic pipe as trunking and it's almost impossible to to feed another wire and extract it half way along.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Self adhesive even 3M VHB doesn't last long on the boat internally. Even on sanded, and acetone cleaned surfaces. The little square blocks for holding wires are the worst. Either the adhesive fails, or the plastic block itself comes away from the sticky part. If you glue it back together then the other part fails. It's a real pain if trying to secure trunking or other wiring to gelcoased surfaces that you can't screw into.